No trees may be planted closer together than the following small trees:
30 feet (9.1 m); medium trees, 40 feet (12.2 m); and large trees, 50 feet
(15.2 m); except in special plantings designed or approved by the Department
of Public Works.
No trees may be planted closer to any curb or sidewalk than the following:
No street tree shall be planted closer than 35 feet (10,67 m) to any
street corner, measured from the point of nearest intersecting curbs or curb
lines. No street tree shall be planted closer than 10 feet (3.05 m) to any
fireplug.
No street trees other than small trees may be planted under or within
10 lateral feet (3.05 m) of any overhead utility wire, or over or within five
lateral feet (1.52 m) of any underground water line, sewer line, transmission
line or other utility.
The city shall have the right to plant, prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the lines of all streets, alleys, avenues, lanes, squares and public grounds, as may be necessary to ensure public safety or to preserve or enhance the symmetry and beauty of such public grounds. The City Tree Board may remove or cause or order to be removed any tree or part thereof which is in an unsafe condition or which by reason of its nature is injurious to sewers, electric power lines, gas lines, water lines or other public improvements, or is affected with any injurious fungus, insect or other pest. This section does not prohibit the planting of street trees by adjacent property owners, provided that the selection and location of said trees is in accordance with §§ 288-7 through 288-10 of this chapter.
It shall be unlawful as a normal practice for any person, firm, or city
department to top any street tree, park tree or other tree on public property.
"Topping" is defined as the severe cutting back of limbs to stubs larger than
three inches in diameter within the tree's crown to such a degree so
as to remove the normal canopy and disfigure the tree. Trees severely damaged
by storms or other causes, or certain trees under utility wires or other obstructions
where other pruning practices are impractical may be exempted from this chapter
at the determination of the City Tree Board.
Every owner of any tree overhanging any street or right-of-way within
the city shall prune the branches so that such branches shall not obstruct
the light from any street lamp or obstruct the view of any street intersection
and so that there shall be a clear space of eight feet (2.43 m) above the
surface of the street or sidewalk. Said owners shall remove all dead, diseased
or dangerous trees, or broken or decayed limbs that constitute a menace to
the safety of the public. The city shall have the right to prune any tree
or shrub on private property when it interferes with the proper spread of
light along the street from a streetlight, or interferes with the visibility
of any traffic control device or sign.
The city shall have the right to cause the removal of any dead or diseased
trees on private property within the city, when such trees constitute a hazard
to life and property, or harbor insects or disease that constitute a potential
threat to other trees within the city. The City Tree Board will notify in
writing the owners of such trees. Removal shall be done by said owners at
their own expense within 60 days after the date of service of notice. In the
event of failure of owners to comply with such provisions, the City shall
have the authority to remove such trees and charge the cost of removal on
the owner's property tax notice.
All stumps of street and park trees shall be removed below the surface
of the ground so that the top of the stump shall not project above the surface
of the ground.
It shall be unlawful for any person to prevent, delay or interfere with
the Board, or any of its agents, while engaging in and about the planting,
cultivating, mulching, pruning, spraying or removing of any street trees,
park trees, or trees on private grounds, as authorized in this chapter.
